AFL to question Melbourne Football Club doctor

The AFL has called in the Melbourne Football Club's doctor for talks this morning after the Demons' supplements regime was drawn into the sports doping scandal. The AFL says it's urgently seeking explanation from the Demons about the truth of claims that sports scientist Stephen Dank consulted widely with the club's doctor last year.

Transcript

icon-plusicon-minus

TONY EASTLEY: As reported by the 7.30 last night on ABC-TV, the AFL has called in the Melbourne Football Club's doctor for talks this morning after the Demon's supplements regime was drawn into the sports doping scandal.

The AFL says it's urgently seeking explanation from the Demons about the truth of claims that sports scientist Stephen Dank consulted widely with the club's doctor last year.

For its part Melbourne says every supplement in its regime is approved by the club doctor and in accordance with all ASADA and WADA guidelines.

With more, here's Alison Caldwell.

ALISON CALDWELL: In early February when the sports doping scandal broke at Essendon, the Melbourne Football Club issued a statement to the Herald Sun newspaper regarding biochemist Steve Dank. The club said Dank has never had any direct contact with the players.

But a series of text messages sent over six months between Dank and Melbourne's doctor Dan Bates appear to contradict that.

The AFL wants an explanation. CEO Andrew Demetriou:

ANDREW DEMETRIOU: As of this morning we will be calling in the doctor, the Melbourne Football Club doctor, together with any other relevant officials based on things that we've been told previously. And there appears to be, if the report is correct, some inconsistencies.

They've maintained a position which they've maintained publicly even through the media that they've never employed Stephen Dank.

ALISON CALDWELL: The text messages between Dank and Demons doctor Dan Bates were aired on 7.30 last night.

They discussed the club's supplements regime. Steve Dank tells Bates he's found a way to write off the regime as a tax break.

TEXT MESSAGE FROM STEVE DANK: I have a way to put the high performance unit as a R&D tax break. That would mean a fair chunk of money going back to the club. I was about to employ it at Essendon but held off. We will talk more about it Tuesday night.

TEXT MESSAGE FROM DAN BATES: Sounds good.

ALISON CALDWELL: The messages continue through until December when Bates and Dank discuss treatment for Melbourne captain Jack Trengove.

TEXT MESSAGE FROM DAN BATES: When can we book guys for the injections?

TEXT MESSAGE FROM STEVE DANK: Yes, we can book the guys. We will do the guys Sunday.

ALISON CALDWELL: It's important to note that none of the substances mentioned in the text messages are banned by ASADA or WADA.

The AFL says the claims made by the ABC are new to them and will form part of the ongoing ASADA and AFL investigations.

Andrew Demetriou again:

ANDREW DEMETRIOU: This issue of ethics and trust in our code which are values that are held very dearly particularly by our supporters is something that you can't play ping pong with. And if anybody hasn't got the message that they must be absolutely truthful and be absolutely honest and upfront with the AFL then there will be consequences.

ALISON CALDWELL: The Melbourne Football Club issued its own statement late last night. The club says as soon as the investigation into Essendon was launched in February, Melbourne instructed all staff to sever ties with Steve Dank. It says Steve Dank was never employed by the club.

But speaking on ABC local radio this morning the AFL's Andrew Demetriou says any association will be closely examined.

ANDREW DEMETRIOU: I think it's important that given what's been going on publicly with the Essendon Football Club and of course what's been going on with ACC report and the names of people being mentioned and the names of substances, that if there was an association with regards to whether there was an employment agreement, then I think that would have been relevant in our briefings.